Results

Is “Putting Out the Fleece” Biblical? Judges 6:36-40 December 10, 2003 Gideon put out the fleece because he needed courage, not because he needed to know what the Lord wanted of him (6:14-18). Some Christians today “put out the fleece” either because they don’t know what God wants them to do or because…

The Great Escape: Can Man Escape God? Jeremiah 34-44 December 1, 2002 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:12-18, page 1063, pew Bible (north side) Jeremiah 33:14-18, page 1232, pew Bible (south side) Introduction: Q: Have you ever tried to escape God? Would everyone who has ever tried to escape God please stand…

Business is Business? Nov.1, 1998 Genesis 29-31 Introduction: Ps 18:25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, Ps 18:26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. “Shrewd” is used here in a good sense as God’s wisdom.…

Consumed by the Vision Ephesians 4:1-16 August 7, 2005 TRANSLINE Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called With all humblemindedness and gentleness With patience Bearing-with one another in love Being diligent to keep the unity of the…

The Journey of a Leader Acts 27:1-28:16 February 4, 2001 Scripture Reading: # 718 Hymnal, A Contemporary Affirmation of Faith Introduction: ILLUSTRATION: The Parable of the Turtle Picnic The journey of life takes many twists and turns. It is never a straight line, but there is a beginning and a destination.…

Our Need for Justification Acts 25-26 January 28, 2001 Introduction: The desire for justification is a universal human phenomenon. We all seem to have an inherent need to be vindicated or proven right. Justification can be the process by which arguments are carried on for years in families and even in…

What's the Purpose? Acts 20:1-38 December 10, 2000 Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-9 Introduction: "Just what is the purpose of all this anyway?" Is that something you have ever said to yourself, to someone else, or perhaps even to God himself? We all have those times when we feel it just isn't worth…

It's Your Choice Acts 19:8-41 December 3, 2000 Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:14-24 Introduction: What kind of choices have you made today? What kind of choices have you made this week? What kind of choices will you make tomorrow? Our lives are filled with choices. We must make choices constantly, and…

Our Certain Victory Acts 14:1-28 October 1, 2000 Scripture Reading: Romans 8:28-39 Introduction: Are you a victorious Christian? Or have you already wished I hadn't asked that question? Now I realize that there are degrees of victory. And it would be presumptuous of any of us to say that we have already…

Ad-ministry Acts 6:1-7 July 9, 2000 Scripture: Exodus 18:13-23, page 115, pew Bible Introduction: Have you ever encountered poor administration? I know --- somebody out there is saying, "Funny you should ask that. Why, where I work, they never even heard there was a need for proper administration." Just…

The Spirit's Message May 21, 2000 Acts 2:14-41 Introduction: How would you know if God had something to tell you? He would try to get your attention, right? The reason for that is that we often don't give God the attention he desires and so he must do something out of the ordinary to attract us. When…

The Last Great Commission April 30, 2000 Acts 1:1-11 Introduction: Have you ever been given a task to do that you weren't sure how to do? Young Man or Woman: taxes, car repair, marriage, first job, military (silent observation w/o instruction onboard ship) Child: going to school, school projects, helping…

Christianity is Not a Spectator Sport March 1, 1998 Judges 19-21 Scripture: 2Tim. 4:1-8 (2Cor. 11:23-29) Introduction: Today’s passage is about another incident during the times of the judges between Moses and Joshua on one hand, and King Saul and King David on the other. You recall from last week’s…

A Picture of Eternity: Heaven on Earth April 18, 1999 Isaiah 65:17-25 Introduction: We learned last Sunday about the great error of mankind to attempt to defy God’s command to fill the earth when they collaborated to stay in Shinar and build a city and a tower going up to the heavens to make a name for…

The Cost of Misunderstanding God April 11, 1999 Genesis 11:1-9 Scripture: Luke 14:25-35 Timeless Truth: The cost of misunderstanding God is confusion and scattering. The gift of believing God is life and peace. Introduction: Lost in Translation: Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji jokes interpreted lost on media.…

How Do You Relate? April 29, 2001 Galatians 3:26-4:7 Video: A Modern Parable I. Relationship Affirmed (vv. 3:26-29) A. You are all related in Christ through faith. (v. 26) B. You are all related in Christ through experience. (v. 27) C. You are all related in Christ through identity. (v. 28) 1. Christ…

Changed by the Vision Ephesians 4:17-5:21 August 14, 2005 RECAP God’s vision for us (chosen/predestined to be part of his kingdom – to the praise of his glory) How to keep it alive (prayer) How to live it (grace/not works) United in it (family) Committed to it (mystery/love) Consumed by it (prisoner/mature/work/‘one’)…

The Price of Rejection; The Unforgivable Sin Daniel 5 July 18, 1999 Introduction: This chapter we read this morning gives us the high points, or essential details, on an intriguing story of truth and disaster. But it leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions. Such as who is King Belshazzar and what…

Trick or Treat Acts 17:1-15 October 29, 2000 Scripture Reading: 1Thessalonians 2:1-7; 17-20 Introduction: How skeptical are you? Big Question: What must we understand about our options when we are presented with the truth of the gospel? I. Cycle One A. Narrative (vv. 1-9) Paul, Silas, and Timothy left…

The X Factor Acts 17:16-34 November 5, 2000 Scripture Reading: Romans 1:18-25 Introduction: How many of you have been in the dark at some point in your lives? But then, how would you know if you are in the dark unless you were able to pick up some kind of clue. You get those kind of clues from other…

Working Together Acts 11:19-30 September 3, 2000 Scripture: Introduction: We learned recently, or realized recently, at a Campus Life meeting for the pastors of NW Chicago, that there is little sense of community spirit in the high schools here. This is in regard to a search for whatever we can capitalize…

God's Grace in Prayer Acts 12:1-24 September 10, 2000 Scripture: Philippians 1:3-12 Introduction: Have you ever felt powerless? I know you have because I have. I know you have because I have talked with many of you at one time or another and have heard your doubts and concerns. All of us reach that point…

Beyond Ourselves September 17, 2000 Scripture: Acts 12:25-13:12 Introduction: Have you ever been beside yourself? That is an expression we use to say that you are frustrated. It is as if there were two of you standing side by side arguing some particular point or question. Like, shall I go to church…

Owning Up To Ordination May 16, 1999 Acts 9:1-31 Introduction: An ordination service, that we will have this afternoon at 2:30, typically calls for an ordination message from the one being ordained. In this case, it is myself. Since this afternoon’s service is full, with messages from two of the ordination…

And You Will Be My Witnesses Acts 8 July 23, 2000 Introduction: Boundaries, barriers, and barricades. They are all around us in life. They can be protective, but most often we think of them as hindrances to what we would like to do or accomplish. How have you encountered them in your life? We also encounter…